Paper Topic:

CONSERVATION (BOLOGY)

Grey Wolf Conservation

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Healthy ecosystems require a definitive balance between species and habitat . The loss of one creature , be it through natural selection or man 's , will have lasting impact on the habitat around it . One such conservation need is in the Canus Lupus (or the grey wolf . Decimation of the wolf population around much of the United Sates began with the onset of Europeans . As far back as the 1600s , we find Massachusetts Bay Colony issuing payment for any wolf head in an attempt to

exterminate the population (Fascione Kendrot , 1998 ,

. 8 . Reintroduction of wolves has been shown as an effective way to re-balance the ecosystems

In the United States , the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS ) began with conservation in mind . Their mission statement reads , working with others , to conserve , protect and enhance fish , wildlife , and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people (online . In attempting to preserve the habitat of the grey wolf , the USFWS performed a reintroduction program at the Yellowstone National Park

The wolf is returning , sometimes on its own , but most often through reintroduction programs . In looking at the success behind Yellowstone National Park and the questions surrounding a possible reintroduction to the Adirondack State Park , we can determine the successes , failures and questions that surround this conservation method today

Yellowstone National Park reintroduced wolves in 1995 . Nova Online , a PBS subsidiary , interviewed Ed Bangs recently . Mr . Bangs is the Wolf Recovery Coordinator for the US Fish and Wildlife Service . When asked how the wolves were affecting the area of Yellowstone National Park , Mr Bangs replied , Scavengers such as wolverines and bald eagles and golden eagles and magpies will also have carcasses throughout the year And that 's going to have an effect on the whole scavenger community When asked how the reintroduction had gone , Mr . Bangs stated , We had predicted that we would have to reintroduce wolves for four years . But after two years , the wolves have adapted so well that we don 't have to do any more reintroductions . We 're done ' The transformation complete and the wolves have actually begun to disperse on their own

Given the success of Yellowstone , many other parks are considering reintroducing the wolves themselves . The Adirondack State Park in New York State is one such entity . Currently , the park and its local inhabitants are discussing the issue . Based on current conditions , some research says it is feasible , others say it is not . Adequate prey sufficient denning areas and major security areas are all important to wolf pack survival . Several researchers have estimated that the Adirondacks could support approximately 150 wolves , based on preliminary prey and habitat availability studies (Fascione Kendrot , 1998 ,

br 8 . Others state , Though our analyses suggest that the AP comprises sufficient habitat to support a small population of gray wolves regional conditions are not conducive to sustaining wolves over the long term (Paquet , Strittholt Strause , 1999 ,

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